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More green spaces set for South West London as regeneration project plans go public

Summary:

The Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust is spearheading the project.

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By Molly Kersey

The Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust is spearheading an £800,000 regeneration project to make green space improvements to a section of the Wandle Valley in Merton and Sutton.  

The work will be funded by The Big Green Fund which was set up by Mayor of London Boris Johnson in order to link and improve access to green spaces and waterways across London.

The proposed plans will allow Watermeads Nature Reserve in Mitcham to be opened to the public for the first time, as well as improving the access and environment of the River Wandle to connect green spaces in neighbouring boroughs with 4km of new landscaped walking and cycling paths.

Other green spaces where proposed developments would take place include Poulter Park between St Helier and Mitcham, Bennett’s Hole Nature Reserve in Mitcham and Spencer Road Wetlands in Hackbridge.  

Mr Johnson said: “It is absolutely essential that we continue to enhance London’s green spaces as we build more homes and buildings to accommodate our growing population and support our economy.

“With more greenery making areas more attractive to live, work and invest in, we can continue to compete not only as the greenest city in Europe, but as the best big city on earth.”

The regeneration project would take place between January 2014 and March 2015.

An exhibition of the proposed developments will be available to view at a drop in event at the KNK stadium, home of Tooting and Mitcham Football Club, from 3pm-8pm on December 11, where members of the public will be able to ask questions and share any concerns.

“The purpose of the event is to provide residents and interested groups with feedback following the consultation held in October, and we will explain how we have tried to take people’s comments on board,” said Peter Wilkinson, chief executive of Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust.  

Mr Wilkinson said that in addition to this the latest and most detailed plans of the proposals would be on display and they would be able to explain any changes to the scope, funding or timetable for delivering the works.

“Following the event on the December 11, we will continue to communicate with interested parties, in particular to some of the neighbours who might be most affected by the improvements taking place along the river and in Poulter Park.”   

Members of the project team will also be available to discuss the plans in greater detail.

For more information about the Wandle Valley Regional Trust’s proposals please visit www.wandlevalleypark.co.uk/Projects/Mayors-Big-Green-Fund

Photo courtesy of garryknight, with thanks.

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